Maverick (Carter Brothers Book 5)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  MAVERICK

  Carter Brother Series

  Book Five

  Lisa Helen Gray

  ©

  Copyrights reserved

  2017

  Lisa Helen Gray

  Edited by Hot Tree Editing

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written consent from the publisher, except in the instance of quotes for reviews. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the Internet without the publisher’s permission and is a violation of the international copyright law, which subjects the violator to severe fines and imprisonment.

  This book is licensed for your enjoyment. E-book copies may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share with a friend, please buy an extra copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places and events are all product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business or establishments is purely coincidental.

  Dedication

  You are not alone….

  “The scars you can’t see are the hardest to heal.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  MAVERICK

  There comes a time when you reflect back on your life and know you need to make some changes.

  Serious changes.

  I was barely out of nappies when my dad first started beating me. It wasn’t long after that started when my mum left, walking out on me and my four brothers.

  Then, not even a teenager, I was used for something far worse than beatings. They were a breeze in comparison to what I endured. I was torn apart from the inside out, and each and every time a part of my soul disappeared.

  I’d like to be able to say my childhood doesn’t reflect on who I am, that is doesn’t define me.

  But that would be a lie.

  I’m very rarely with it lately, the fight having left me. My heart and body are being pulled in two different directions: one half clings to my past, the other fighting for a future, the same one my brothers have. Each has a woman in their lives, and not just as lovers, but as friends―partners.

  And it wasn’t until I watched Max, the most unlikely of my brothers to fall in love, that it hit me.

  They don’t need me anymore.

  For years, raising my brothers has kept me from drowning in my own sorrow and guilt. It’s helped block out my past and forget about the future because I never deserved one for what they went through, right under my nose. But now, seeing them happy, it’s making me want more. I’ve realised just how lonely I am, how much I crave to love and be loved. I want someone who completes me the same way my brothers’ girls complete them.

  The thought alone terrifies me because I’ve never wanted anything like that. Not for myself, at least.

  I don’t trust women, my mum a prime example as to why. But it also has to do with my past and the women I had to deal with. My dad is to blame for that part. He’s the one who brought them into my life, forcing me to do things no kid that age ever should.

  He’s the reason I can’t stand to be touched, especially when I’m fucking some random chick for a quick release.

  Speaking of, I’ve been having a dry spell for a few months now. I’ve not had the time, and if I’m honest, one-night stands really aren’t doing it for me anymore. I never thought those words would enter my mind but it’s true. It doesn’t hold the same satisfaction for me as it used to.

  The first woman to pique my interest for more than a one-night stand also happens to be my new tenant, Teagan.

  She’s the other reason why I’ve been so fucked up, thinking things I never used to think about, and it scares me. From the second I saw her, I’ve not been able to get her out of my mind.

  Our first encounter wasn’t even a great one―or much of one at all, if I’m honest. Some dickhead attacked her, tried to steal her purse or something. I went after him, but he was gone the minute he rounded the corner.

  When I made my way back over to the group, I had been too focused on the scared little girl to notice anyone else. Her face struck a chord with me and I couldn’t help but react, wanting to protect her.

  Then I looked up and my eyes connected with Teagan’s. Something resembling an electric shock ran through my chest in that moment, stunning me speechless.

  She had to be the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. And her body… fuck, her body was pure perfection. She had an hourglass figure, curves in all the right places and legs that went on for days. But it was her eyes that sucked me in.

  They were a startling deep blue, with lashes so thick and long they fanned her cheeks. I’d gotten so lost gazing at her that I turned into a blubbering fool. I rushed off not long after Max introduced her and said she was my new tenant. I couldn’t breathe.

  She’s been in every one of my fantasies every time I wanked one off, but soon I know my hand won’t be good enough. I’ll want the real thing.

  The fact that she has a kid hasn’t put me off in any way; if anything, it pisses me off knowing there’s a man out there somewhere, probably still in the picture. Although, in the stupid interview Max conducted, she stated there wasn’t one.

  A knock on the door startles me and I thrust the weight bar up above me one last time, clicking it in place.

  Sweat trickles down my back, my arms aching and back burning as I glance over at the time, and I can see why. I’ve been here for four hours after waking from another nightmare.

  Coming to the makeshift gym I built in one of the empty storage rooms usually helps me blow off some steam and burn away the images still floating around in my head from the nightmares, but lately, I’ve had too much going on to clear it. I’ve ended up coming here every night for the past two weeks, working out until my body passes out from exhaustion.

  My attention goes to the door when Matt, my assistant manager, walks in, looking pissed. Swiping the bottle of water from the floor, I gulp down the contents before facing him, knowing I’m going to need to be prepared.

  “What’s happened?” I ask, breathing heavily as I wipe my face and neck free from sweat.

  “Dore hasn’t turned up for her shift again. And the place is a shithole since the night staff didn’t bother doing clean-up,” he grumbles.

  None of us like cleaning, especially on a weekend when we have mostly dickheads coming in. V.I.P. is supposed to be a restricted club. You can’t just walk in off the streets in a pair of trainers; you need to be dressed to impress and have enough money to pay our high entrance fee. However, weekends we’ve been letting the public in, but only if they’re following the dress code.

  Dore, our regular cleaning lady, has failed to show up for work several times over the past few weeks, always giving us some lame-ass excuse. She had her final warning last week, meaning I’m now going to have to go through the hassle of finding someone else. Hopefully I’ll be able to talk Max into finding someone. Actually, I’ll see if Lake wants the job of hiring a new cleaning lady. After the tenant interviews and having more complaints than I get from drunken customers, I’m thinking she’s the safest bet.

  “I’ll have to do it,” I sigh, angry. “First, I’m going to leave Dore a message, let her know she’s fired.”

  “Rather you than me. That bitch is fucking crazy.” He sniggers, telling me something I already know; it’s the reason I hired Dore in the first place. I knew she could handle the customers when she came in during rush hour to clean the toilets and again at dinner time to hit the backstage area, making sure the work
stations were ready for the next group of dancers.

  “I hear ya.” I nod, getting up and grabbing a T-shirt.

  Matt leaves, grabbing a crate of bottles from outside the door before heading to the bar. Walking into my office, I find her contact information, wasting no time in dialling. The quicker I do this, the less I risk her coming in and having to do it face-to-face. Matt wasn’t joking when he said she was crazy.

  After ringing for the third time she finally answers, her voice filled with sleep and slightly slurred.

  “Ello?”

  “Dore! You’re alive! I’ve been so worried I went and called the police to search for your body. I’m so glad that this isn’t one of those missing girl cases and that you’re really just a lazy employee. Oh, and in case you were wondering, you’re fired,” I bite out sarcastically.

  “What? Why? I clean―”

  “No, Dore, you don’t. You were meant to be here an hour ago and what do you know? You’re not here,” I snap, my voice hard and cold.

  “But I need the money. I have bills, I have―”

  “You had your last warning last week, so now you’re gone. You’re fired. I’d tell you it was a pleasure working with you, but it would be a lie, and I hate liars. Loathe them actually,” I tell her brightly, though my voice is still tight. “I best get going, as I’ve got cleaning to do. Oh, and don’t bother asking for a letter of recommendation. You won’t like what I have to say,” I warn her before ending the call, ignoring the word “bastard” before it cuts off.

  Lovely!

  I don’t bother putting my T-shirt back on as I walk down the hall to the cleaning cupboard. Instead, I throw it on the shelf before grabbing some black bags and bleach.

  “Fuck, this is going to be a long ass day,” I groan to myself, then head back towards the club.

  *** *** ***

  Grabbing the black bags full of crap, I walk outside to the back of the club, making my way over to the bins. My joggers ride low on my hips and when I lift the bags, throwing the trash into the bin, they drop farther, exposing more skin.

  Something hits one of the tin bins behind me, gaining my attention. Glancing over my shoulder, I freeze.

  “Um… hi,” Teagan waves, looking down at her Ugg slippers and back up at me, her cheeks a rosy red. “I’m just putting the bin in the rubbish,” she rambles, then shakes her head. I chuckle, amused. “I mean, I’m just putting the rubbish in the bin.”

  “I can see.” I grin, not able to help it. She’s adorable, and my dick twitches seeing her all flustered with her bare legs on show. They’re longer than I remember. She’s wearing sleep clothes from the looks of it. As I continue checking her out, I find she’s not wearing a bra. Her nipples are puckered, a rosy red colour from what I can see through her white, nearly see-through tank top.

  Fuck!

  I want to suck on them, taste them and see if I can make her come just by playing with them. They appear to be a perfect handful, the size I love. I can picture it now, my cum smeared all over her tits, over her tight puckered nipples.

  I groan at the image, biting my bottom lip.

  She crosses her arms over her chest, feeding my fantasy even more, especially seeing them pushed together the way they are. Now all I can think about is my dick pressed between them, her squeezing them together whilst licking the tip of my dick as I fuck them.

  She looks down at my crotch and a squeak leaves her mouth, her face turning redder. I don’t bother covering the hard on I’m sporting; there’s no point. I’m not wearing any boxers and I like the fact that she’s checking me out.

  “Moommmmyyyy, I want some of my princess cereal,” Teagan’s little girl calls from the top of the stairs. My heart stops seeing her hang her head out of the bars.

  “Hey, move back a little, squirt,” I warn. She startles, falling through the gap―one that shouldn’t have been big enough for her to fit through, but some fucker broke one of the panels by swinging from it when he was drunk.

  “Faith!” Teagan screams in fright behind me.

  Sprinting forward, I catch the little girl in my arms, my heart pounding in my chest.

  Fuck, I don’t even like kids all that much. I love my niece, don’t get me wrong, but any other kid and I’m gone. Something about Faith is different though. Fuck knows why, as she looks like any other kid. Just cuter.

  “You’re Superman,” Faith whispers, looking up at me with wide, trusting eyes.

  “Nah, kid, just Maverick.”

  “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Oh, Faith, what did I tell you? I said not by the stairs,” Teagan fusses, grabbing Faith out of my arms and holding her tight. All of a sudden I feel cold from not having her in my arms.

  “I’m okay, Mummy. Superman saved me.” Faith blinks, touching her mother’s cheek lovingly.

  “You’re not hurt anywhere?” Teagan asks again, still trying to look for injuries.

  Fuck, she’s white as a sheet, worry plastered all over her face. A burning pain hits my chest, witnessing her distress. All I want to do is pull her into my arms and comfort her.

  “She’s good, aren’t you, squirt?” I interrupt, rubbing the back of my neck, feeling like I’m intruding.

  “Yep.” Faith giggles, squirming to be put down.

  “Thank you. Thank you so much. If you weren’t here….” Teagan trails off before throwing herself at me.

  Her arms wrap around my neck, her body pressed flush against mine. Instead of the normal dirty thoughts I’d usually be thinking―like how good her nipples feel, hard against my chest―all I can think about is how right it feels to have her there.

  I know the only reason she’s hugging me is because she’s grateful I just saved her daughter from cracking her skull open, but a part of me wonders if she’s thinking about how good it feels to be in my arms too.

  “Kiss, kiss, kiss,” Faith starts chanting, giggling her little head off.

  Teagan pushes away, a deep red flush covering her face and neck. She doesn’t look at me as she nervously laughs at Faith’s giddiness.

  In all fairness, I’m all for her kissing me. It definitely wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen.

  “Come on, I thought you wanted cereal,” Teagan teases, her voice raspy. She gives me a quick glance, her eyes soft. For a moment, an intense look passes between us, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. She seems to snap out of it quickly, trying to mask how affected she was or how she just tilted my world on its axis.

  “Thank you again.” Teagan smiles.

  “See you later,” I promise, knowing there is nothing I wouldn’t do to have this woman in my life and in my bed. It’s not even about how hot she is either―it’s her. Her personality, the way she makes me feel when she looks at me and how she interacts with her daughter.

  She gives me one last lingering look before shutting the door behind her. I’m still staring at her closed door when a body jumps on my back, scaring the shit out of me.

  “Guess who?” Lake says in a deep voice, her hands covering my eyes.

  “I want to say the Wicked Witch of the West, but I’m scared of getting my ass kicked.” I spin around and smile, happy to see her. I haven’t seen much of her since she and Max announced Teagan was my new tenant. I think they’ve been avoiding me.

  She huffs, jumping down and walking to stand by my side. She’s staring up at Teagan’s front door like I am, looking amused.

  Please don’t let her have seen me make a fool of myself in front of Teagan.

  “Is there a reason you’re staring at Teagan’s front door?” she asks, her eyebrows scrunched together.

  “No!” I cough uncomfortably, shifting so I’m facing the tiny little thing. “Why do I have the pleasure of your presence this early?” I ask, hoping she forgets I was staring at Teagan’s door like a creeper.

  Still watching her, I can’t help but see the change, not only in her appearance but in her behaviour and personality. She was so withdrawn and closed off from the worl
d when we first met her; it’s hard to believe this is the same girl standing in front of me. Hell, she couldn’t even eat a cooked meal without looking broken and torn up over it.

  But she’s changed. Her life has changed, the outcome happy for once.

  Her eyes are brighter nowadays, and she’s happier with herself, more relaxed.

  “Matt called Max to come in and help with the cleaning,” she answers. I raise my eyebrow, wondering if that’s really her explanation.

  “That doesn’t answer my question.” I chuckle, walking to the bins and grabbing another bag to throw in.

  “Yeah, well, it should. As soon as Matt mentioned ‘work’ Max passed me the phone, saying it was an emergency. He’s an asshole. He tried using the spot he has on his back as an excuse for why he couldn’t come in, said he needed to get more beauty sleep,” she says, rolling her eyes.

  I laugh. “It’s better than the whole ‘I can’t clean, it makes my skin dry’ excuse.”

  “He’s going to pop by later to ‘help’. Looks like you’re done though,” she says, looking at the bags.

  I smile, my eyes softening. She really is a rare gem, always ready to help others. She’s good for Max, sometimes too good, but I couldn’t picture either of them with someone else.

  “Nope, still got the toilets, tables and vacuuming to do. Matt’s stocking the shelves, so after you finished cleaning, you can wash last night’s glasses, if you’d like,” I offer, grinning.

  “What will you be doing?” she asks as she walks beside me down the hallway.

  “I need to fix a little problem,” I tell her evasively, not wanting to admit that I’m fixing that goddamn railing. She’ll probably read more into it. Or maybe I’m reading too much into it, making it out to be a bigger deal than what it is. I’ve never done anything for anyone other than family, but with her, I find myself wanting to do everything to impress her. And I’ve never needed to impress anyone before in my life.

  “Oookay, Mr Avoid The Question.” She snickers, walking into the cleaning closest.

  If only she knew how much I do avoid.